20.6.17

Pregnant mother of 4 shot and killed by Seattle police after she confronted officers with a knife

On Sunday, a pregnant mother of
four identified as 30-year-old Charleena Lyles was shot and killed by
Seattle police after she confronted officers with a knife.

Police Sgt. Mark Jamieson said two
officers went to Lyles' address after she called to report a burglary.
"We were here to meet with one of the residents. Typically,
that would be a one-officer call, but there was some information in the
system, officers had dealt with this particular unit, this particular
caller just recently. There was some hazard information so that prompted
a second officer to respond. She started talking all crazy about how
the officers weren't going to leave and she had a pair of scissors," one
officer says." Jamieson said.

According to King County jail
records, Lyles was arrested and charged with obstruction of a public
officer and harassment of a law enforcement officer on June 5. She was
released conditionally June 14.

On the dashcam audio of Sunday's incident, officers can be heard greeting Lyles and asking questions about the burglary report.

She tells them she left her door
unlocked while she went to the store and that while she was out her Xbox
was stolen. A child is heard making noises in the background. The
officers ask Lyles if she knew who the suspect could be. She says she
has no idea. They take down her contact information and confirm what was
stolen.

Seconds later, a commotion is heard.
a child cries and Lyles curses at the officers. Officers shout "get
back" repeatedly. Shots are heard. Then the dashcam audio ends.

Jamieson confirms that that at some
point after Lyles armed herself with a knife both officers "had to fire
their service weapons." He however didn't confirm if any children
witnessed the shooting but said there were three children in the
apartment at the time of the shooting. "They are unharmed, they are
being taken care of right now," he said.